Potato-picker.



No. 732,039. PATENTED JUNE 30,-1903.

G. W. BLY. I POTATO PIUKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

wih moaeo 69am No. 732,039, PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.. G. W. BLY.

POTATO PIGKER.

ABPLIOATION FILED JAN. 19. 1903.

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N0 MODEL.

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Q/vihwoocc UNITED STATES Patented June 30,1903.

CLARK W. BLY, OF PITTSFORD, NEW YORK.

POTATO-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 32,039, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed January 19, 1903. Serial No. 139,704. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARK W. BLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsford, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Pickers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will'enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in potato harvestin g machines, and particularly to a novel construction of apparatus for picking up and conveying potatoes from the ground to a receptacle resting on a part of the frame ofthe machine; and it consists in the provision of an endless carrier having fingers which are preferably curved and adapted to enter the soil and raise the potatoes and carry the same to a location where they are dropped into a receptacle, means being provided to adjust the apparatus whereby the fingers on the endless carrier may extend to different depths below the surface of the soil.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through my improved potato-picking machine, parts being shown in section; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the same.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, a a designate wheels, which are mounted upon an axle b, suitably journaled in the longitudinal beams a of the frame and also in bosses fastened to the latter, and secured to the front cross-beam a of the frame is a tongue a bolted or otherwise fastened thereto,and to said tongue an evener may be swiveled in the usual manner.

Mounted so as to have a tilting movement upon the axle b are the two parallel beams 12, having integral bosses, said beams being preferably made of metal and provided with apertures to receive the shaft 1), and journaled in suitable bearings in said beams is a shaft 6, having a sprocket-wheel f keyed thereto, about which a sprocket-chain g travels, which also passes about a second sprocket h, which is keyed' to rotate with a shaftt, journaled in hearings in said beams 19. A pinion-wheel c is keyed to the shaft b and is in mesh with a pinion-wheel d, keyed to rotate with the shaft e. By the geared mechanism described it will be observed that power is transmitted from the shaft 1) to the shaft 6 and thence to the shaft 15, which is adapted to drive the endless carrier. Journaled near the forward ends of the beams b is another shaft 3', carrying sprocketwheels Z, keyed thereto, and about said sprocket-wheels l and the sprocket-wheels l, which are keyed to rotate with the shaftt, are the sprocket-chains m and connecting'said chains are the shafts m, suitably journaled in the links of the chain, and extending laterally from each of said shafts m and parallel to one another are the fingers or tines 7a, which are made preferably curved, as shown in Fig.1 of the drawings. On each side of the frame are shields s, which are provided for the purpose of preventing the potatoes from falling off the carrier as they are being elevated to be dropped in'the receptacle.

The receptacle for the reception of the potatoes is designated in the drawings by letter 1" and comprises depending strips 0"", supporting the cross-pieces, forming a slatted side and bottom.

Adjacent to the forward end of each of the beams b are formed sockets 72 provided to receive the screws n, which securely hold the arms-n to said beams. These arms a are held in fixed positions and are adapted to tilt with the frame as the same is raised or lowered. A shaft 0 is journaled in suitable bearings in the longitudinal beams a of the frame and has collars n keyed thereto, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which collars are provided with integral arms n, carrying pins n to which the ends of the arms a are pivotally connected. An operating-handle p is keyed to the shaft 0 and carries a spring-actuated dog p, connected to the'releasing-handle 19 whereby said dog may be raised out of engagement with the notches in the segmentplate Q, whereby as the operator swings said lever backward and forward the forward end of the endless carrier carrying the tines may be thrown lower or higher, accordingly as it is desired to'have the same enter the ground at a greater or less depth for the purpose of scooping up the potatoes.

The operation of my invention is simple and'will be readily understood when taken in connection with the description herein given, together with the accompanying drawings. By raising or lowering the lever the tines may be caused to dig into the loose soil and to raise the potatoes from such soil as the machine is driven over the various rows, and as the potatoes are'being lifted by the carrier any soil which may be taken up with the potatoes will readily fall through the fingers or tines before the potatoes are deposited into thereceptacle.

It will be understood that while I have axle, the shafts journaled in bosses integral with the elevator-frame, sprocket wheel and chain connections between said axle and shaft-s, an endless conveyor, the shieds s socured to said frame and extending about the ends thereof, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARK W. BLY.

Witnesses:

ANNA E. SHANNON, NATALIE GALLERY. 

